Police set to safeguard Ahmadiyah mosques

Festive fasting: Residents flocked to the main thoroughfares in Semarang, Central Java, during the dugderan parade on Monday to welcome the Ramadhan fasting month which starts on Wednesday. The dugderan parade, a traditional Semarang way to welcome Ramadhan, consisted of various warak endog effigies, golden cart and floats. (JP/Ainur Rohmah)

When asked when the prayers would begin, Dedi said the congregation would follow the government’s announcement of the official start of Ramadhan.

“We will notify the authorities prior to performing tarawih prayers because it will involve plenty of congregation members. We hope to be able to pray peacefully in this blessed month,” he said.

While Ahmadis claim themselves to be Muslims, mainstream Islam considers the minority sect to have deviated from basic Islamic teachings by recognizing Ahmadiyah founder Mirza Ghulam Ahmad as a prophet.